text: Hit period drama Downton Abbey will be returning to our screens this autumn with a fourth series. But until then, the grandeur of the Edwardian estate has been recreated by the Simpsons family. The spoof is the latest in a long line from the cartoon's creators, and follows a Breaking Bad parody. The episode, called Simpton Abbey will be coming to Sky 1 HD later this year.


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The Fine Art of Saying, You're Fired
Howard Levitt Financial Post: 17 August 2005 National Post: (c) 2005 National Post. All Rights Reserved.
Shirley believed she was doing Sam a favour when she fired him. Concerned that he would repeat his mistakes in his next job, she calmly detailed all of the reasons for his dismissal and offered advice to prevent those problems' recurrence. Sam took it well, requesting clarification on some points and agreeing with others.
Pleased, Shirley ended the meeting, informing Sam that she would send a letter to his home confirming their discussion.
But the next day, Sam attended work earlier then usual. He marched into Shirley's office announcing: "I've thought carefully about your criticisms and will work hard on improving."
He did not realize he had been fired.
Firing with the bon vivant bravado exhibited in The Apprentice will result in additional damages. But Shirley's method is equally dangerous.
How should dismissals be conducted?

subset: commoncrawl


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What is the Carers Emergency Scheme?
The Carers Emergency Scheme is run on behalf of Gloucestershire County Council by a partnership of Guideposts Trust, Crossroads Care, Worcestershire Telecare and Carers Gloucestershire. It offers you the peace of mind that should an emergency occur, the person you look after will be supported and the people who need to know informed.
Level 1.
You will nominate 2 contacts (e.g. family members, friends or neighbours) who would be willing to check on the person you look after if you are unable to because of an accident, emergency or illness. They will then be contacted if an emergency occurs.
Level 2.
If Level 1 will not be sufficient to cover the care needs of the person you look after, Level 2 gives you the additional option of having a support worker from Crossroads Care to come in to offer the support needed, within 2 hours of the emergency call being made. If the emergency lasts longer than 48 hours then other arrangements will be made, working with Gloucestershire County Council.
Am I eligible for the service?
If you are 16 or over and provide care or support for a family member, friend, relative or disabled child, you can apply for the service.
How does the scheme operate?
You provide basic information about yourself, the person you look after and the action required in the event of an emergency. This information is then passed onto Worcestershire Telecare.
You are then issued with a card – like a credit card – with a unique identification number on it. The card also displays the Worcestershire Telecare number.
In an emergency this number is called and the workers at Telecare carry out the instructions you have given; either to ring your nominated contacts or to request Crossroads Care to provide the agreed support.
How do I access the scheme?
If you want to register for Level 1 and nominate 2 contacts then all you need to do is call Carersline on 0300 111 9000 and either request the form to be sent to you or go through the form over the phone with one of our Advisers.
If you want to register for Level 2 then you will need a Carers Assessment first, as a Level 2 service needs to have been identified as an eligible Carer need and be part of a Carer support plan. If the assessment concludes that Level 2 is appropriate then you will be referred to Guideposts Trust who will work with you to draw up the emergency plan. To discuss and request a Carers Assessment ring Carersline on 0300 111 9000.


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Angela Simmons, Sevyn Streeter Hit the Windy City For "Preserving the Beauty of Our Heritage" Event
On Saturday, April 19, 2014, Beautiful Textures presented the "Preserving the Beauty of Our Heritage" in-store experience to Chicago residents. Held at Walmart (8331 S. Stewart Ave.), the event was hosted by WGCI's Loni Swain and featured pop culture icon, Angela Simmons, and hit recording artist, Sevyn Streeter.
The event kicked off with WGCI's DJ Phantom on the turntables to set the energy of the day. WGCI's DJ 33 1/3 took over at showtime just as Swain graced the stage to welcome the crowd and introduce the sponsors. Strength of Nature Global Brand Manager Camila Crews greeted the crowd and introduced Strength of Nature Global Marketing Director Charlene Bastien-Dance, who shared the purpose for the event and highlighted the new Texture Manageability System (TMS) and Dream Kids products.
From there, attendees enjoyed one-on-one interviews with Angela and Sevyn, who both shared their own TMS experience and love for the product. The crowd especially turned up when Sevyn performed hits from her debut EP, "Call Me Crazy, But…" At the end of the program, Angela and Sevyn participated in a special meet and greet where they signed autographs and took pictures with their fans.


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Segregated LDI solutions
Contact Us*
Call our team on +44 20 7321 1897
or email Business Development Team
We have grown to become one of the UK's largest managers of LDI solutions. This has allowed us to gain unique experience of successfully helping the widest range of clients develop and implement robust long-term funding strategies.
We rank first for Overall LDI Quality and Overall Investment Quality based on Greenwich Associates 2018 UK Investment Consultant Research.
Watch our video to hear Steve Aukett, a member of Client Solutions Group, discuss our approach.
'Intelligent' hedge management to reduce costs: we are passionate about securing for clients the benefits of what we refer to as 'intelligent' hedge management. Our goal is to ensure that client solutions remain efficient and cost-effective in a very dynamic market and regulatory environment.
Robust risk management: a strong risk management framework is central to the ability of being able to meet our clients' objectives. Insight's LDI platform has a number of risk protection mechanisms in place to protect our clients under stressed market events.
Innovation: having been a pioneer of LDI, we are equally committed to its improvement and evolution. Our goal is to ensure that strategies remain practical, cost-efficient and highly effective. This is reflected in our extended range of solutions that now routinely include equity overlays, credit overlays, longevity protection, currency protection, enhanced liquidity management and other features that enable us to provide clients with comprehensive risk management solutions.
Partnerships for the long term: we are committed to building strong and lasting partnerships based on trust, competence and effective communication. Our skilled and experienced professionals work collaboratively with our clients and their advisers, ensuring that their strategies are tailored for their specific circumstances, and respond quickly and effectively to their changing needs.
LDI in numbers
- 2004 Insight launched its LDI capability
- 54 LDI investment professionals
- £431.9bn assets managed by our Financial Solutions Group
LDI Manager of the Year
Global Investor Awards 2018
LDI Manager of the year
European Pensions Awards 2018
LDI Manager of the Year
Financial News Asset Management Awards 2017
LDI Manager of the Year
Global Investor Awards 2017
LDI Manager of the Year
Global Investor Magazine Awards for Investment Excellence 2017
LDI Manager of the year
Professional Pensions UK Pensions Awards 2017
LDI Manager of the year
Pension Age Awards 2017
Liability-Driven Investment award
CIO European Innovation Awards 2016
LDI Manager of the year
European Pensions Awards 2016
LDI Manager of the year
Financial News Awards 2016
Corporate profile
Fund and strategy profiles
Latest webinars and videos
LDI market data
- UK LDI data sheet 31 July 2018
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 29 June 2018
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 31 May 2018
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 29 April 2018
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 29 March 2018
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 28 February 2018
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 31 January 2018
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 31 December 2017
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 30 November 2017
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 30 September 2017
- UK LDI Market Data Sheet 31 August 2017
Recent thinking
Introducing LE01: a measure of longevity exposure
With input from industry experts, we have developed the concept of 'LE01', a measure of liability exposure that enables pension schemes to understand the impact of a sustained change in future longevity improvements. We describe the measure, its uses and benefits.
Annual investment update
Overall 2017 was a good year for risk assets but a poor year for the US dollar, contrary to market expectations at the start of the year, when interest rate differentials were expected to be a driver of dollar strength. Credit clearly outperformed government bonds and government bonds traded sideways, with a little volatility at times.
Self-managed buy-in: an effective alternative to a conventional insurance buy-in
We believe that a self-managed buy buy-in offers a more efficient alternative to a conventional insurance buy-in. However, investors should consider a wide range of factors when considering either option.
Our LDI solutions
Team statistics as at 30 June 2018. Assets under management (AUM) are represented by the value of cash securities and other economic exposure managed for clients.
Important information
The value of investments and any income from them will fluctuate and is not guaranteed (this may be partly due to exchange rate fluctuations). Investors may not get back the full amount invested. Past performance is not a guide to future performance.
Derivatives may be used to generate returns as well as to reduce costs and/or the overall risk of the portfolio. Using derivatives can involve a higher level of risk. A small movement in the price of an underlying investment may result in a disproportionately large movement in the price of the derivative investment.
Investments in bonds are affected by interest rates and inflation trends which may affect the value of the portfolio.
The investment manager may invest in instruments which can be difficult to sell when markets are stressed.
Where leverage is used through the use of swaps and other derivative instruments, this can increase the overall volatility. Any event that adversely affects the value of an investment would be magnified if leverage is employed by the portfolio and losses would be greater than if leverage were not employed.
A credit default swap (CDS) provides a measure of protection against defaults of debt issuers but there is no assurance their use will be effective or will have the desired result.
*Please read important information about Insight's data collection policies HERE before sharing your personal information with us on email.


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Fashion Trends
Pollution protection: 5 easy tips for combating the environment's effects on...
(BPT) - Properly taking care of your skin each day - and countering the possible effects of pollution - is quick, affordable and easy to do. So why do so many Americans forgo that step in their daily routines? A recent survey by CeraVe found 48 percent of American adults often worry about their skin, yet 36 percent have no regular skincare routine. Only 36 percent regularly use cleanser, and 33 percent say they're confused about how to choose effective products and methods.Read More »
Why a dermatologist says your makeup needs a makeover
Many cosmetics have a shelf life or a best-used-by date on their labels. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says cosmetic manufacturers are not required to provide these dates. Some cosmetics have a shorter life span than others, especially eye makeup. If you still have the same tube of mascara that you had last spring, Mayo Clinic dermatologist Dr. Dawn Davis says it might be time to clean out your cosmetic drawer.Read More »
Classic cardigan? 5 tips for caring for your vintage wardrobe
(BPT) - As environmentally aware Americans join the movement to reduce, reuse and recycle, many are turning to the past to find unique, well-made vintage pieces to complement their wardrobes. The hunt for great vintage wear has become so popular that we're spending some $4 billion annually on such fun finds, reports the Huffington Post.Read More »
Want a beautiful smile? Protect yourself!
(BPT) - They say you can tell a lot about a person from their smile. From braces to whitening treatments, regular dental visits and good brushing habits, Americans do a lot to make sure their teeth look great when they flash a smile. However, one of the most important parts of a great smile, and indeed an essential part of healthy teeth, often gets overlooked: your enamel.Read More »
Everything you need to know about make up brushes
Getting a pro makeup look is undoubtedly every girl's dream. We ferret out magazines, videos and books on makeup and purchase the most expensive cosmetics, along with makeup brushes. But when it comes to using those brushes and getting the look we want, many of us do not know how to properly use them.Read More »
How to dress for the summer heat
We all look forward to summer, but let's face it, hot days can be a real pain when fashion is at stake. If you need some outfit inspiration that will keep you looking cool in the heat, check out our ideas. 1. Wear open-toed, flat shoes. High heels can be a real pain the heat. You want to wear sturdy shoes that you won't slip out of and won't cause blisters 2. Bigger is (sometimes) betterRead More »
DIY Home
Quick DIY home improvement projects
(BPT) - The words home improvement usually conjure up images of major undertakings like tiling your bathroom or kitchen or tearing down a wall, taking hours or even days to complete. The fact is there are some meaningful home improvements you can finish in under two hours.Read More »
4 ways to simplify your DIY projects
(BPT) - Whether you're working on a spring home improvement project or a summer task, this is the time of year when you focus on improving your home both inside and out. As you look for ways to make your home even better, nothing beats a good DIY project.Read More »
4 tips to pull together a garden-to-table meal this summer
(BPT) - The summer season is the best time for enjoying the garden you've worked so hard on throughout the spring months. As the flowers bloom, the herbs mature, and the vegetables ripen, it's time to celebrate all your hard work with a garden-to-table meal. Chris Lambton, garden and yard care expert, suggests letting the bounty of your yard inspire a summer party.Read More »
Fresh beginnings: Clean your bathroom faster with these tech tools
(BPT) - If you're like most Americans, you prefer to have an immaculate bathroom - you just don't like cleaning it. In fact, in a recent study by Kohler (conducted by independent research firm Vision Critical), 42 percent of consumers admitted cleaning the toilet is one of their most disliked chores.Read More »
5 musts for a low-stress, on-budget DIY home project
(BPT) - Owning your own home is a life accomplishment for many adults, and keeping it looking sharp and adding your personal touches brings a sense of pride. It seems there are always things you want to improve, so don't let a limited budget or lack of know-how hold you back from dreaming. There are plenty of ways to enhance a room or remake a space without breaking the bank, along with many resources out there to show you how.Read More »
Unique home improvements perfect for DIY
(BPT) - Here's a quick question for you: What's your favorite DIY project you've ever completed? Chances are the answer pops right into your mind, and even if you've completed hundreds of DIY projects over the years, you probably have some that truly stand out. Those that weren't at the top of your list may fall lower for several reasons. Maybe the result wasn't what you hoped for, the project wasn't particularly rewarding or you've done it before.Read More »
Home Trends
The surprising health benefits of decluttering
(BPT) - Getting your house in order can be a struggle, especially as we age. Sorting through decades of belongings is often emotional and stressful, as questions and decisions pile up: Is this jewelry valuable? What should I do with all these tools I no longer use? Will this china set have sentimental value to my children? But while it can be exhausting, this effort to declutter and simplify can be worthwhile, not only for our homes but also for our health.Read More »
6 project ideas to recreate your kitchen
(BPT) - As the hub of activity in a home, the kitchen serves many purposes: meal prep base, dining area, family gathering place, celebration zone, and entertainment center, to name a few. Does your high-use, heart-of-the-home kitchen meet the challenges and needs of your family life?Read More »
Rooftop decks for every style
(BPT) - Fresh air, great views and capitalizing on unused space - it's no wonder rooftop decks are a hot trend for suburban homes and urban apartment complexes alike.Read More »
Escape with 2018's top trending color
(BPT) - Whether you've been a loyalist to the same shade of green for the last decade or if you're an evolving follower of trends whose color choices have shifted over the years, the trending color of 2018 is sure to surprise and intrigue you. Indeed, black is back.Read More »
Contemporary style: What it is and tips for your home
Contemporary style and design are everywhere and can be a foundation for many new homes built today. But what exactly does that mean and how can it be incorporated into existing homes? "Contemporary style is really about reduction - reducing things to their essence and having really clean lines and uncluttered spaces," says Alan Pickett, Pella Corporation's resident architect.Read More »
Seasonal Trends
3 secrets to hosting a great party on your deck or patio
(BPT) - Cookouts, barbecues, family reunions and more are upon us, and as the coolest neighbor on the cul-de-sac, hosting is a no-brainer. We've compiled three simple ways to get your deck and yard ready to go, so you can play host to the cookout of the year. 1. Make your deck and patio shineRead More »
Not enough hours in the day? Try these handy shortcuts for time-consuming...
(BPT) - Between work, kids, pets and more, everyday life can feel like ... a lot. Add summer schedules to the mix, and things can get downright chaotic. Thankfully, retailers are stepping up with convenient new delivery and pickup options. To help you save time this summer, we've listed here all the latest ways Target is helping more guests across the U.S. save time and get back to fun in the sun: Just pull up, and drive outRead More »
5 ways to tap into your comfort culture
(BPT) - Are you in touch with your comfort culture? More than just a catchy buzzword, comfort culture is that sense of comfort and pride that comes from who you are, where you're from and how you do things. It's the space where you can relax and let the stresses of everyday life melt away, even for just a few minutes. It's the feeling of being with old friends who really know you, sitting around the table with family enjoying a great meal or taking a walk under the stars with someone you love.Read More »
4 tips for festive flourishing flowers, vibrant plants and hardy herbs
(BPT) - Spring is in full bloom, but are your plants keeping pace? If the answer is anything but a resounding yes, don't worry. There's still plenty of time to get into the spirit of the season and grow your most beautiful bed of flowers.Read More »
Top trends to inspire your outdoor living
(BPT) - Outdoor living spaces rank first among special function rooms desired by consumers, according to the American Institute for Architects, and so homeowners are expected to be going all-in for the outdoors in 2018. Trex Company, a maker of premium decking and railing, has gleaned insights from contractors, homeowners and industry experts to compile the following outdoor living trends that will dominate this year: Year-round enjoymentRead More »
Spring cleaning: Declutter your home, declutter your mind
With the arrival of spring comes spring cleaning. While decluttering your home may seem like an overwhelming task, it can significantly declutter your mind. According to a survey by the American Cleaning Institute, 72 percent of households spring clean every year.Read More »
5 'smart' ways to tackle your spring cleaning
(BPT) - Pull back the drapes, crack open the window and let in the warm, sun-soaked air. That's right, spring is right around the corner and that means it'll soon be time to chase away the grime and odors that have settled in over the long winter.Read More »
10 movies you will want to see this April
April is almost here, and these are some of the new movies coming with it! See below for Movie, release date, and quick overview of the film. 1. Blockers (April 6): Three parents try to stop their daughters from losing their virginity on Prom night. 2. A Quiet Place (April 6): A family of four must navigate their lives in silence after mysterious creatures that hunt by sound threaten their survival.Read More »
More Headlines
Non-gamers: What you need to know about the biggest trend sweeping households
(BPT) - Today's gamer is no longer the stereotypical teen loner playing in his parents' basement. In fact, today's gamer is probably more like you than you think. She's a co-worker with two kids, the guy next to you at the gym, a fellow volunteer - and most commonly, a spouse, sibling or friend. Gaming has changed a lot over the years and so have the players who play them.Read More »


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Featured Photo: Arc View (Paris, France)
Standing nonchalantly above an undulating sea of people and vehicles, the Arc de Triomphe presented a contrasting first view to its standard travel photo persona. The wave of energy was in sharp contrast to the crowds just behind us to the southeast, embracing their leisure in the Jardin de Tuileries. This photo always stirs the same burst of delight that struck each time I turned a corner and glanced up at yet another of Paris' iconic landmarks.
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iPhone 5 in the enterprise: Pain or gain?
If the new iPhone 5 with LTE wireless sells as well as analysts predict, its impact on IT shops already wrestling with the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) trend could be dramatic.
Some analysts predict higher cellular network data costs borne by corporations and greater security risks with the new iPhone 5, which Apple unveiled today.
On the other hand, three IT managers said they believe the iPhone 5 will be manageable from a security and wireless data service cost aspect. One CIO said it will probably be a boon to worker productivity.
"Business runs today in real time, and workers want to do things fast, so from that perspective, the iPhone 5's LTE can provide that real-time capability," said SAP AG CIO Oliver Bussmann in an interview minutes after the iPhone 5 was announced. "The future is a mobile one, and we're constantly looking at any desktop app that we can move to mobile. One of my responsibilities as CIO is to enable a new user experience when possible."
Bussmann said he supports 60,000 workers globally, including more than 40,000 smartphones and tablets that are managed through SAP's Sybase Afaria Mobile Device Management tool, which SAP also sells to other corporations. Afaria can also be used to provide telecom expense management so that Bussmann gets automated warnings when data usage thresholds are exceeded.
SAP, like many large corporations, also negotiates flat data rates with wireless carriers to keep down data costs, Bussmann said.
He estimated a large number of SAP's 13,000 existing iPhone users will want to move to the iPhone 5, but workers have the option of testing out Android devices such as the Galaxy S III, too. SAP creates about 100 different mobile apps for enterprises, many of them used internally.
Terex, a global manufacturing company with 1,000 smartphone users, already supports the iPhone and Android phones under a BYOD framework. "The iPhone 5 won't change our thinking," said Terex CIO Greg Fell, in an interview. "We'll keep buying them like before. People will be happy with the LTE support."
Terex, like SAP, has negotiated data rates with carriers, making concerns about a data usage explosion from the iPhone 5 less of a worry, Fell said.
Alex Yohn, assistant direct of technology for West Virginia University, said some of the college's 30,000 students in Morgantown, W.Va., have talked about wanting to buy an iPhone 5. But he said that the area is not served yet by LTE, making that a less important feature. About 40% of the 450 staff members in IT jobs use smartphones, he said.
Yohn said iOS 6 and iPhone 5 don't provide enough software and hardware changes over earlier models to cause support concerns for his staff. Many users on campus rely on Wi-Fi, which could take the brunt of more data traffic from the iPhone 5 or other new smartphones. Even so, Yohn said the university is prepared.
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I've prepared this worksheet for my first graders. The purpose is for them to glue some real leaves where they find the words "leaf".
It's a simple task that will gather arts and crafts, Science and English.
I hope it's useful.
Loved the idea! I'm going to use it on my first lesson of the school year and explore the colours. Thank you so much!!!ResponderEliminar
Hello. I am a Malone University Student in Canton, Ohio, USA. I am currently taking a instructional technology class, and was looking at different blogs written by educators. Your blog is very helpful! I love this worksheet! I think it is a great idea to incorporate "concrete" examples to the abtract words on the page. Thanks for posting this!ResponderEliminar


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B1 – Outstanding Teacher / Trainer of the Year Award, Vocational Education
This award recognises the outstanding achievement of an individual teacher/trainer or team who has enhanced student learning and/or industry training through exemplary teaching practice.
Value of the award
The award consists of a grant of $3,000 which can be used by the recipient/s to:
- advance the career/s of the recipient/s
- provide additional resources to support their teaching or activities related to the award
- assist the individual/team to disseminate and embed good practice in learning and teaching.
Award monies must be spent within the year the funds are allocated and cannot be rolled over into the future years i.e. a November 2015 award will be allocated money in 2016 and must be expended in 2016.
You may apply as an individual in only one category/subcategory across all awards per year. You may apply, as a member of a team application, in more than one category/subcategory per year.
Selection criteria
All five criteria will be given equal consideration by the award selection panel:
Individual or team teaching and learning skills
This may include team teaching, movement into different roles, taking up leadership opportunities, facilitating learning in others, engaging with other professionals, working outside area of expertise, contributions to professional knowledge and skill and pedagogical practice, sharing and re-evaluation of teaching practice, further academic studies.
Level of personal commitment to quality teaching and learning in vocational settings
This may include building and/or participating in networks, contributing to the maintenance of particular initiatives that support teaching and learning, acting as a mentor/guide for others, providing support for new staff, enhanced student learning.
Exemplary standard of professionalism
This may include convening subject development group, membership of professional associations, maintaining ethical standards.
Positive outcomes achieved by students or industry-based trainees, attributed to candidate's contribution
This may include student testimonials, inspiring students to further learning, support for students with learning difficulties, employer or industry testimonials.
Knowledge and standing in relation to the industry or community covered by their area of expertise
This may include industry teacher testimonials, other teacher testimonials, contributions to course materials, publications.
Applications must consist of:
- RMIT Teaching Awards cover sheet (DOC 92 KB)
- Four page written statement
- Up to four pages of supporting evidence
- References
- One reference must be from the Head of School or Unit (under certain circumstances the applicant's line manager can be used instead of the Head of School/Unit. For further information please contact your college teaching awards coordinator.
- One other professional reference (from a peer internal or external to RMIT University, but not a current student).
- Individual peer review report (login required)


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A day in the life of a Mid-West Mom of soon to be young men! Trust me- I've always got "stuff" going on- After all, it's all in a Mom's day, right?
Saturday, April 24, 2010
What country am I in?
OK~ I live in North Iowa, pretty American, in my opinion. Just the other day a radio ad came on~ ALL in Spanish! I did take four years of Spanish in high school (never used much of it) and did understand some fo the words. But, I honestly never did "get" what the advertisement was for. My point being: I live in America and I listen to a "local" radio station and I cannot even understand the advertisement. Am I missing the big picture here? Seems to be a waste of advertising dollars~ guess what? I'm no longer listening to that station. If I can't understand what is being said, why listen? I live in America and English (to the best of my knowledge) is the language of our country. Maybe I'm not in America, maybe I'm not American, not sure where I'm at anymore! After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?
Posted by Sara Broers at 8:13 PM
Labels: Iowa
2 comments:
So true, this is great. So many others have said the same thing including me. It has changed so much how we all do things now.ReplyDelete
I stumbled across your blog and wanted to say hi.ReplyDelete
Take a minute an check my blog out if you haven't already.
I have lots of great giveaways going on.
Thanks :)
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To A Wonderful DaughterAuthor: Josephine Collins
Illustrator: Jill Latter
Little Tiger Press
Little Tiger Press
Daughters are wonderful… They give love and laughter, they inspire us, they make us proud – and they bring so much joy. This book is for a special daughter…with love x
A little book to tell those you love just how special they are. If you're searching for an extra birthday present for your daughter, a little Valentine's gift or want to buy her something sweet 'just because', then this is the gift book for you. With gorgeous illustrations by Jill Latter, pretty polka dot padding on the cover and a ribbon bookmark, To a Wonderful Daughter is the perfect way to tell your daughter just how much she means to you. One of a wonderful new series of six gift books from Little Tiger Gift.
Pages: 48
Format: Hardback
Format: Hardback
Price: £6.99
Dimensions: 140 x 140 x 12 mm
Dimensions: 140 x 140 x 12 mm


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Poured by hand and broken piece by piece
The finest Swiss milk and grand cru chocolate, whole roasted Piedmont hazelnuts, premium almonds and pistachios and carefully selected fruity raisins – these are the fresh, natural ingredients that go into the new Sprüngli chocolate bars. Poured by hand and broken up piece by piece, each individual bar is visibly unique.
New chocolate bars – for fresh enjoyment
With the new chocolate bars, Confiserie Sprüngli combines their traditional chocolate recipe, top-grade cocoa and choice nuts and fruits for a fresh taste of delicious indulgence. Besides the natural ingredients, it is the way they are lovingly hand-crafted that makes each chocolate bar unique. The confectioners pour the chocolate by hand in small amounts and then break it up piece by piece.
Grand Cru Chocolate with Hazelnuts
With a high cocoa content of 72% and bursting with Piedmont almonds caramelised in a copper vat, the dark grand cru chocolate promises a powerful but harmonious flavour.
Milk Chocolate with Hazelnuts
With a significant cocoa content of 42% and whole roasted Piedmont hazelnuts, the exquisite milk-chocolate bar promises a mild but intense flavour experience.
Grand Cru Chocolate with Almonds, Pistachios and Raisins
Its cocoa content of 49% gives the lighter grand cru chocolate a full-bodied but more restrained flavour, with whole roasted almonds and pistachios and choice, fruity raisins.


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Paleo Parmesan Cheese
This delicious topping adds something I missed when I switched to a Paleo way of eating.
The mixture of nutritional yeast, garlic and nuts tastes surprisingly like "Parmesan Cheese". Sprinkle it on salads, noodles or anything you want. Taste a spoonful and you'll really get the flavor of parmesan. It's crazy! It is easy to make, so get the ingredients and keep a batch in the refrigerator for when you need a little flavor boost to your favorite dishes.
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 T. nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp. sea salt
- Place all ingredients into a food processor and process until a fine powder is formed.


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Along with buying your Ezhomespree Portable Laptop Desk computer desk, there are also computer desk accessories you may be interested in. computer desk lamps, computer desk chairs and additional shelving for your computer desks are all available wherever you buy your computer desk.
Modern computer desks are Ezhomespree Portable Laptop Desk computer desks that look modern and contemporary in any room. You can buy modern computer desks with drawers, modern computer desks with wheels, modern computer desks with hutches and modern computer desks with storage.Modern computer desks come in various brands, styles, sizes, types and prices.
Some popular types of home computer desks this season are: Cherry Finish Home Office Corner Workstation Computer Desk, Ergonomic Deluxe Home Office Computer Desk - Chocolate Brown by Bonaka, Home Office Computer Desk with Casters Cherry Finish, and Orispace Complete Home Office Desk Workstation Warmly Finished Computer Desk with Uniquely Shaped Elliptical Shelving Is Designed Specifically for Today's LCD Monitors.
Computer desks are manufactured with many different materials. The most common computer desks are glass computer desks, wooden computer desks and metal computer desks. Each type of computer desks comes in various types, styles, sizes and colors.
Ezhomespree Portable Laptop Desk laptop computer desks come in many different prices. There are extremely cheap and affordable laptop computer desks starting at $30 while elegant, executive laptop computer desks made of more expensive materials cost more. The average price of laptop desks ranges from $50 to $150 and depends on size, style, brand and model of laptop computer desk.
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We know that second graders begin to focus more. They build stamina for creating output, begin to reason and concentrate, can be unsure of things as they see and understand an expanding world, like to be part of a group, and gain more independence by exhibiting personal responsibility.
We help our second graders learn and practice: building resilience and an understanding of personal potential; developing an awareness of expectations of self, classroom, and school; and understanding how social issues can be escalated or de-escalated and the choices that can be made to help a situation.
Our goals for second graders
Explore different genres of writing with a focus on extending thoughts and elaborating on ideas.
Cultivate an understanding of the world around them by studying local communities, past and present and investigating topics like group identity and change makers.
Deepen number sense and fluency with addition and subtraction and develop algebraic thinking by manipulating numbers and thinking flexibly about operations.
Move beyond decoding and further explore comprehension strategies to ask questions, access prior knowledge, and make connections.
Explore living things to understand adaptations and ecosystems, defend arguments based on scientific data collected during experiments, and communicate findings.
Reproduce sounds of the language, comprehend short stories, begin noticing singular and plural nouns and adjectives, and understanding actions.
Grow their love of reading a diverse range of literature and learn the basics of digital and print research and giving credit to sources.
Further develop gross motor and locomotor skills, coordination, flexibility, and fitness, and learn to support others, play fair, cooperate, and demonstrate confidence and sportsmanship at the same time.
Play more complex rhythm patterns, begin singing rounds, play the autoharp, develop more insights into classical music, and perform folk dances and simple dance steps.
Build upon technical skills in all areas, take risks and try new techniques, for example, learning to make coils in clay and score pinch pots.
Create more in-depth projects that follow the design process and learn to use web-based, educational resources for guided research projects and presentations.


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We started Day 2 with a delicious breakfast at a diner in the Meatpacking District called Hectors. (Look at me using the proper neighbourhood names!). While most of the buildings are now shops/lofts/studios we did walk by a place where some actual meatpacking was going on. Or else those gentlemen wearing long white coats with dubious stains in the front were up to some shenanigans!
While the food at Hectors was your standard bacon and eggs the most amazing thing happened while we were eating: someone ordered breakfast to go and the waitress put the coffee in a paper bag. This is something that I've wondered about for years! In TV and movies when ever someone "brings coffee" to their ladyfriend after a night of sweet, sweet..um…wholesome conversation and tickle fights…they proceed to open up a paper bag and take out to-go cups of coffee out of it. It's perplexed me for ages. Were people actually bagging their coffee? Didn't it spill everywhere? Seeing the waitress actually put the coffee and muffin into the bag and give it to the worker who probably had just clocked out from his night from working next door was about as New York as I was going to experience. I proclaimed to Nick that this was the best city in the world and I was having a fantastic time!
We walked off our breakfast by going through the High Line. This was an old rail system that they converted to an elevated walking park. Since you're above the streets it makes for a very pleasant and picturesque trail. I guess it's quite a long trail but we only walked a little bit because we wanted to hit Chelsea and the Donut Plant.
The Donut Plant is right next to the Chelsea Hotel: no big deal! (it's was a super fun deal to me!).
While Nick was adventurous and got the seasonal donuts: chestnut and cranberry. I went more traditions: vanilla bean and coconut. All four donuts were tasty and we enjoyed them with a Stumptown coffee in the lobby of the Ace Hotel.
Moments like these just made my trip. Eating things I had been reading about for years while enjoying them in grand New York style. The Ace Hotel is posh and comfortable and the lobby is a great way to sit and relax, meet and chat with friends.
Through my Dad we arranged lunch plans to meet his highschool friend on Broadway and 39th street and lo and behold on the way there we passed by Macy's and the holiday window displays were out! It's hard not to feel Christmassy when there is magical music playing, sparkly ornaments spinning and flying around and kids pointing and smiling at what they see.
We met Ann at her work and she was so welcoming to both of us even though it was our first time meeting. After asking if we liked spicy food (yes). She took us to Szechuan Gourment. We ordered Ma Paul tofu, chilli chicken and green beans with garlic mince. Delicious!
Then we took a spin through Bryant Park where I was squealing inside because I love Project Runway (note: I don't know if that's actually where anything happens, but they sure talk about Bryant Park all the time).
Next stop was Momofuku Milk Bar. One of the main reasons I wanted to come to New York! I asked Nick not to judge me before I went in because I wasn't sure how I was going to react. He smiled reassuringly in the way only your greatest friends can do which said, I know you're crazy and I love you for it and if you pee your pants I promise I will never tell a soul. I carefully selected a Corn Cookie, Compost Cookie, the Marshmallow Cornflake cookie and….
Oh yeah – and a fabulous Milk Bag tote which might trumph my Marc Jacobs bag (just a few months)
The crack pie is a bit like tarte au sucre only served in a buttery oatmeal cookie crust. You would be crazy to try to eat such a large serving as the one above in one sitting and it actually took me a few days to finish. The Corn Cookie was like a butter cookie but with delicious corn undertones and probably cornmeal. The other two cookies I saved for my husband who graciously shared them with me (both were yummy!).
Wait, did I tell you we enjoyed these treats in Central Park?
And did you know that Central Park has a little zoo?
With sea lions!
And this thing!
And Little Red Pandas!!!!!!
To wake me out of my sugar induced coma we walked from Central Park to Grand Central Station. Nick thought it was something that I should see and I reckoned that it was something he wanted to see again. So we walked in that direction with an occasional window shopping break.
Grand Central Station is pretty impressive. It is chokerblock full of people going off in many different directions.
My feet had had almost enough by this point and when Nick scouted a bar we sat down for a drink.
So let me sum up my feelings at this point. I was sitting in Grand Central Station having a vodka gimlet with one bag full of donuts and the other bag full of cookies. Life was good.
But it was about to get even better:
We had dinner at Shake Shack
It's not just a burger stand. It's like a burger mecca.
…and you can get beers and eat your dinner in the park! I'm sorry – I have to say it once: I LOVE NEW YORK!
I had the double cheese burger, fries and the Brooklyn Ale. The meat was juicy and the bun soft and buttery. Nick didn't think the fries were anything special, but I'm a girl, fries are always special. It was worth the many blocks we walked. I may have teared up a little.
That evening we decided to find some nightlife. While browsing what was near our hotel we came across the BEST YELP REVIEW EVER for a place called Marie's Crisis. (hint: the second one down). Marie's Crisis is a gay piano bar that plays only showtunes and Disney songs. It was a lot of fun! People were belting out tunes at the top of their lungs and everyone was laughing and cheering. We stayed long enough to recognize a few songs and then headed back out to enjoy some more window shopping along Bleecker St, or Greenwich St, or Hudson St…not sure where we were actually.
Day 2 was another successful day in proving that NYC is a great city and around every corner there is something interesting, pretty, cool or tasty.
Day 3: Tribecca! Century 21! MOMA! And more!


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Waxahachie, TX (PRWEB) January 21, 2016
The auction is located at 999 Solon Road, Waxahachie, TX 75165, with bidding beginning at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, January 28th. Bidders can participate in person or online. Items are available for public inspection on Wednesday January 27th, 8a.m.-4 p.m. and also beginning at 7:00 a.m. on auction day. Several times each year retiring autos and equipment are offered for sale to the general public at this auction.
JJ Kane auctions are unreserved. That means that everything sells to the highest bidder, regardless of price. Owners are not allowed to bid on equipment they have consigned to the auction.


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These hydrangeas are one of my most favorite of all flowers. My jaw literally dropped when I spotted them at the SF Flower Mart.
common name: hydrangea expression
scientific name: Hydrangea macrophylla (mophead)
The scientific name, 'macrophylla,' literally meaning 'great-leaved,' identifies the leaves, while the common name, 'mophead,' identifies the large round clusters of flowers that stand up like heads among a sea of leaves. Whereas the traditional mophead flower has 4-5 petals, this particular variety, Expression, stands out among the rest for its multiple stacking blooms! In addition, the range in color is just spectacular. The red hue appears almost as if these green botanicals have rusted over time. I have seen others where the red appears more pink and even others where the base color is blue with hints of gold and green. I can't get enough of these!
Since my main work with these flowers is pressing them, I am particularly smitten with the way they form a multi-pointed star shape when all of the layers are pressed together. It's hard to keep them in stock, but I love creating designs using them. I even created my bridesmaids earrings with the blue green variety.


text:
A while back I submitted a minor patch (3 lines, with some help from some of the developers on that, so I would even hasten to say that I wrote the patch) for a dns whitespace issue. Due to my growing interest in jabber, I want to see gaim support more XMPP features. The first one I decided to try and tackle is resource priority. I sent an email to the devel list requesting commentary on the proper implemnattion of priority in gaim and solicited a couple of possible options. We'll see how things go.
Looking at the source this time around things seem a bit easier. I blame this in part upon Chris since he's been helping me understand C a bit more. (For all the ladies out there, yep, Chris is a geek, you need not talk to him anymore all hope for him is lost).
There are two options for setting/supporting resource priority in gaim. One method is tie it to the account, and allow the client to have only one priority no matter what status it is set to. Eg, no matter if you're Away, DND, Missing, or Available the client would always have the same priority and would always have messages routed to/past it when another client with lower/higher is online.
The other option is have priority tied directly to status, so that all different statuses will have variable priorities; an example of this would be if you were away for your client to have a -100 priority but if you were available a 5 priority, that way if you were on said client and around then you'd get messages routed for anything with a priority less than 5, but if you were to set it to away, you'd more than likely not get any messages as they'd be routed to a different higher priority resource. This second method seems to be what the gaim developers had in mind when sprinkling the little bits of priority code in the jabber protocol plugin thinger.


text:
CMS provides answers to auditor questions
Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractors will not be replacing existing program integrity contractors, according to new guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs) offer different services than the recovery contractors, according to a frequently asked questions document released by CMS.
While both groups should be identifying overpayments and reviewing claims, one difference is that MICs can give information on regional and national fraud trends, the document says.
CMS also offered guidance on how states can prepare Medicaid providers for the audits. Recommendations include providing the name and contact information of the RAC vendor and work on identifying overpayments and underpayments.
Click here to read the full FAQ document.


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|15 May 2014
IE10 will not updated after downgrading to IE8
I downgraded IE10 to IE8 a few months ago, and now trying to upgrade Windows 7 x64 to IE10 but I keep getting error codes through the offline installer and windows updates.
|My System Specs
|15 May 2014
You had a fair amount of corruption present -
from your first SFC scan this morning...
Line 13950: 2014-05-15 10:47:11, Info CSI 000003d8 [SR] Repairing 47 (0x000000000000002f) components Line 13951: 2014-05-15 10:47:11, Info CSI 000003d9 [SR] Beginning Verify and Repair transaction
From your CheckSUR log...
Checking Component Store (f) CSI Catalog Corrupt 0x80096004 winsxs\Catalogs\000a64cf10d76850f858deeaf46aea7438659688e66a7defe0c8e4a3b63c3d40.cat wave.wcr10.cryptoruntime_1aaab1af848ab112_126.96.36.199_b0998081cbbe8b7e (fix) CSI Catalog Corrupt CSI File Replaced Deleted CatalogThumbprint (f) CSI Catalog Corrupt 0x80096004 winsxs\Catalogs\98bd7d2325d7c1e423b309b75ed2620c72b78636a78b3e5b4dce0f655cee4020.cat wave.wcr10.cryptoruntime_1aaab1af848ab112_126.96.36.199_68ec49aab7426278 (fix) CSI Catalog Corrupt CSI File Replaced Deleted CatalogThumbprint (f) CSI Catalog Corrupt 0x80096004 winsxs\Catalogs\686983517465b20f5a836aef0c88f45ff625e5160525bfa899653a467bb2bebf.cat wave.super.superprotocol_1aaab1af848ab112_188.8.131.52_209ce444415610f4 (fix) CSI Catalog Corrupt CSI File Replaced Deleted CatalogThumbprint (f) CSI Catalog Corrupt 0x80096004 winsxs\Catalogs\699f5031547c609dc1fc54f1b25172c4c1aa5e4ca7350f1f56ae348c7db81cf5.cat wave.super.superprotocol_1aaab1af848ab112_126.96.36.199_d8efad6d2cd9e7ee (fix) CSI Catalog Corrupt CSI File Replaced Deleted CatalogThumbprint
There are a couple of errors in the background CBS which may be the source of your problem...
2014-05-15 12:40:47, Info CSI 000000dc Performing 1 operations; 1 are not lock/unlock and follow: Stage (1): flags: 8 app: [Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-Deployment, Version = 10.2.9200.16521, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral]) comp: (null) man: @0x35befe8 2014-05-15 12:40:48, Info CSI 000000dd Stage component failed, manifest does not match previously staged manifest for identity 2014-05-15 12:40:48, Error CSI 000000de@2014/5/15:16:40:48.086 (F) d:\win7sp1_gdr\base\wcp\componentstore\csd_transact.cpp(1370): Error STATUS_SXS_MANIFEST_IDENTITY_SAME_BUT_CONTENTS_DIFFERENT originated in function CCSDirectTransaction::StageComponent expression: (null) [gle=0x80004005] 2014-05-15 12:40:58, Error CSI 000000df (F) STATUS_SXS_MANIFEST_IDENTITY_SAME_BUT_CONTENTS_DIFFERENT #193457# from CCSDirectTransaction::OperateEnding at index 0 of 1 operations, disposition 2[gle=0xd015001c] 2014-05-15 12:40:58, Error CSI 000000e0 (F) HRESULT_FROM_WIN32(ERROR_SXS_MANIFEST_IDENTITY_SAME_BUT_CONTENTS_DIFFERENT) #192835# from Windows::ServicingAPI::CCSITransaction::ICSITransaction_PinDeployment(Flags = 0, a = Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-Deployment, Version = 10.2.9200.16521, pA = PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64 (9), Culture neutral, VersionScope = 1 nonSxS, PublicKeyToken = {l:8 b:31bf3856ad364e35}, Type neutral, TypeName neutral, PublicKey neutral, cb = (null), s = (null), rid = [115]"Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-VistaPlus-Update~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.2.9200.16521.Internet-Explorer-amd64", rah = (null), manpath = [183]"\\?\C:\Users\JDS\AppData\Local\Temp\5AE33B35-9AB3-4C82-A54B-89E668C2111D\amd64_microsoft-windows-i..explorer-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_10.2.9200.16521_none_cba0e8fb897ea591.manifest", catpath = [168]"\\?\C:\Users\JDS\AppData\Local\Temp\5AE33B35-9AB3-4C82-A54B-89E668C2111D\Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-VistaPlus-Update~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.2.9200.16521.cat", ed = 0, disp = 0)[gle=0x80073715] 2014-05-15 12:40:59, Info CBS Failed to pin deployment while resolving Update: Internet-Explorer-amd64 from file: \\?\C:\Users\JDS\AppData\Local\Temp\5AE33B35-9AB3-4C82-A54B-89E668C2111D\amd64_microsoft-windows-i..explorer-deployment_31bf3856ad364e35_10.2.9200.16521_none_cba0e8fb897ea591.manifest [HRESULT = 0x80073715 - ERROR_SXS_MANIFEST_IDENTITY_SAME_BUT_CONTENTS_DIFFERENT] 2014-05-15 12:40:59, Info CBS Failed to resolve item[0] in Package: Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-VistaPlus-Update~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.2.9200.16521, Update: Internet-Explorer-amd64 [HRESULT = 0x80073715 - ERROR_SXS_MANIFEST_IDENTITY_SAME_BUT_CONTENTS_DIFFERENT] 2014-05-15 12:40:59, Info CBS Failed to resolve execution update. [HRESULT = 0x80073715 - ERROR_SXS_MANIFEST_IDENTITY_SAME_BUT_CONTENTS_DIFFERENT] 2014-05-15 12:40:59, Error CBS Failed to resolve execution package: Microsoft-Windows-InternetExplorer-VistaPlus-Update~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~10.2.9200.16521 [HRESULT = 0x80073715 - ERROR_SXS_MANIFEST_IDENTITY_SAME_BUT_CONTENTS_DIFFERENT]
It may be corruption in the SoftwareDistribution folder - have you tried installing from the standalone installer from here? Download Internet Explorer 11 for Windows 7 64-bit Edition and Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit Edition from Official Microsoft Download Center
|My System Specs
|15 May 2014
I did not try the IE11 because it does not work with my VPN. I did try the similar IE10 standalone installer located here Download Internet Explorer 10 from Official Microsoft Download Center . I could just delete the software distribution folder or rename it to _old, I'm almost positive it will rebuild itself.
|My System Specs
|15 May 2014
I'd rather check some of the other stuff first - but yes, it would rebuild itself.
I need to have a look at your COMPONENTS registry hive
Please copy the C:\Windows\System32\config\COMPONENTS file (no extension) to your desktop and then compress it - upload the compressed file to your favoured fileshare site (preferably Dropbox or OneDrive) and post a link.
|My System Specs
|15 May 2014
I'm unable to make a copy of it because the file is in use, is there any process I need to kill or how do I go about copying the file? Thanks in advanced.
|My System Specs
|16 May 2014
Boot to Safe Mode and try from there - the system is obviously attempting to load it in normal mode and failing.
|My System Specs
|16 May 2014
Thanks it worked, I was trying to get at it remotely last night. Here is the link with the components file.
|My System Specs
|16 May 2014
The file is rather smaller than we normally see - about 30MB rather than 40MB+
This makes me think that there's a good chance that a repair install is going to be necessary
I'll go into more detail when I've had time to have a good look through it.
|My System Specs
|17 May 2014
There appear to be large numbers of entries missing from the registry, at least in the IE10 area I looked at.
This could indicate a number of things - from being perfectly normal (given the machine's history), through to being a sign of major corruption.
Have you been using any form of registry cleaner/optimizer/defragger? If so, does it have an 'undo' option?
|My System Specs
|17 May 2014
No I didn't use anything to touch the registry. I originally installed IE10 and had to roll it back to IE8.
|My System Specs
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It seemed that Frankie was gone for good. The 20-pound, brown-and-white Boston bull terrier had disappeared from his rural Michigan home in mid-January, sure fodder for coyotes or the tractor-trailers speeding along nearby Interstate 94.
Frankie is reunited with his owner, Denise Shepard, today. (Stacey Wescott/ Chicago Tribune)
His owners, the Shepard family, put up posters, placed ads in the local newspapers and offered a reward, but heard nothing. Maybe, they hoped, someone had come across the remarkably sociable dog and decided to give him a home. Or maybe, they feared, Frankie was dead.
Four months passed. And then, early Sunday morning, Mark Feldstein was trudging through the parking lot of his Wheeling townhouse community when a brown-and-white dog appeared out of the darkness.


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I work in events, and my busiest season is winter, specifically around the holidays! I've made a promise to myself that I will try to avoid wearing black lace to everything. Instead, I plan to integrate some of this winter's trends into my event wardrobe. See anything you like?
What's your favorite dressy winter trend?


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Robert Sapolsky writes: As a kid, I saw the 1968 version of Planet of the Apes. As a future primatologist, I was mesmerized. Years later I discovered an anecdote about its filming: At lunchtime, the people playing chimps and those playing gorillas ate in separate groups.
It's been said, "There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people and those who don't." In reality, there's lots more of the former. And it can be vastly consequential when people are divided into Us and Them, ingroup and outgroup, "the people" (i.e., our kind) and the Others.
Humans universally make Us/Them dichotomies along lines of race, ethnicity, gender, language group, religion, age, socioeconomic status, and so on. And it's not a pretty picture. We do so with remarkable speed and neurobiological efficiency; have complex taxonomies and classifications of ways in which we denigrate Thems; do so with a versatility that ranges from the minutest of microaggression to bloodbaths of savagery; and regularly decide what is inferior about Them based on pure emotion, followed by primitive rationalizations that we mistake for rationality. Pretty depressing.
But crucially, there is room for optimism. Much of that is grounded in something definedly human, which is that we all carry multiple Us/Them divisions in our heads. A Them in one case can be an Us in another, and it can only take an instant for that identity to flip. Thus, there is hope that, with science's help, clannishness and xenophobia can lessen, perhaps even so much so that Hollywood-extra chimps and gorillas can break bread together. [Continue reading…]
Why your brain hates other people
Why your brain hates other people — and how to make it think differently
Robert Sapolsky writes: As a kid, I saw the 1968 version of Planet of the Apes. As a future primatologist, I was mesmerized. Years later I discovered an anecdote about its filming: At lunchtime, the people playing chimps and those playing gorillas ate in separate groups.
It's been said, "There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people and those who don't." In reality, there's lots more of the former. And it can be vastly consequential when people are divided into Us and Them, ingroup and outgroup, "the people" (i.e., our kind) and the Others.
Humans universally make Us/Them dichotomies along lines of race, ethnicity, gender, language group, religion, age, socioeconomic status, and so on. And it's not a pretty picture. We do so with remarkable speed and neurobiological efficiency; have complex taxonomies and classifications of ways in which we denigrate Thems; do so with a versatility that ranges from the minutest of microaggression to bloodbaths of savagery; and regularly decide what is inferior about Them based on pure emotion, followed by primitive rationalizations that we mistake for rationality. Pretty depressing.
But crucially, there is room for optimism. Much of that is grounded in something definedly human, which is that we all carry multiple Us/Them divisions in our heads. A Them in one case can be an Us in another, and it can only take an instant for that identity to flip. Thus, there is hope that, with science's help, clannishness and xenophobia can lessen, perhaps even so much so that Hollywood-extra chimps and gorillas can break bread together. [Continue reading…]
Power causes brain damage
Jerry Useem writes: If power were a prescription drug, it would come with a long list of known side effects. It can intoxicate. It can corrupt. It can even make Henry Kissinger believe that he's sexually magnetic. But can it cause brain damage?
When various lawmakers lit into John Stumpf at a congressional hearing last fall, each seemed to find a fresh way to flay the now-former CEO of Wells Fargo for failing to stop some 5,000 employees from setting up phony accounts for customers. But it was Stumpf's performance that stood out. Here was a man who had risen to the top of the world's most valuable bank, yet he seemed utterly unable to read a room. Although he apologized, he didn't appear chastened or remorseful. Nor did he seem defiant or smug or even insincere. He looked disoriented, like a jet-lagged space traveler just arrived from Planet Stumpf, where deference to him is a natural law and 5,000 a commendably small number. Even the most direct barbs—"You have got to be kidding me" (Sean Duffy of Wisconsin); "I can't believe some of what I'm hearing here" (Gregory Meeks of New York)—failed to shake him awake.
What was going through Stumpf's head? New research suggests that the better question may be: What wasn't going through it?
The historian Henry Adams was being metaphorical, not medical, when he described power as "a sort of tumor that ends by killing the victim's sympathies." But that's not far from where Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley, ended up after years of lab and field experiments. Subjects under the influence of power, he found in studies spanning two decades, acted as if they had suffered a traumatic brain injury—becoming more impulsive, less risk-aware, and, crucially, less adept at seeing things from other people's point of view.
Sukhvinder Obhi, a neuroscientist at McMaster University, in Ontario, recently described something similar. Unlike Keltner, who studies behaviors, Obhi studies brains. And when he put the heads of the powerful and the not-so-powerful under a transcranial-magnetic-stimulation machine, he found that power, in fact, impairs a specific neural process, "mirroring," that may be a cornerstone of empathy. Which gives a neurological basis to what Keltner has termed the "power paradox": Once we have power, we lose some of the capacities we needed to gain it in the first place. [Continue reading…]
The thoughts of a spiderweb
Joshua Sokol writes: Millions of years ago, a few spiders abandoned the kind of round webs that the word "spiderweb" calls to mind and started to focus on a new strategy. Before, they would wait for prey to become ensnared in their webs and then walk out to retrieve it. Then they began building horizontal nets to use as a fishing platform. Now their modern descendants, the cobweb spiders, dangle sticky threads below, wait until insects walk by and get snagged, and reel their unlucky victims in.
In 2008, the researcher Hilton Japyassú prompted 12 species of orb spiders collected from all over Brazil to go through this transition again. He waited until the spiders wove an ordinary web. Then he snipped its threads so that the silk drooped to where crickets wandered below. When a cricket got hooked, not all the orb spiders could fully pull it up, as a cobweb spider does. But some could, and all at least began to reel it in with their two front legs.
Their ability to recapitulate the ancient spiders' innovation got Japyassú, a biologist at the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil, thinking. When the spider was confronted with a problem to solve that it might not have seen before, how did it figure out what to do? "Where is this information?" he said. "Where is it? Is it in her head, or does this information emerge during the interaction with the altered web?"
In February, Japyassú and Kevin Laland, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Saint Andrews, proposed a bold answer to the question. They argued in a review paper, published in the journal Animal Cognition, that a spider's web is at least an adjustable part of its sensory apparatus, and at most an extension of the spider's cognitive system.
This would make the web a model example of extended cognition, an idea first proposed by the philosophers Andy Clark and David Chalmers in 1998 to apply to human thought. In accounts of extended cognition, processes like checking a grocery list or rearranging Scrabble tiles in a tray are close enough to memory-retrieval or problem-solving tasks that happen entirely inside the brain that proponents argue they are actually part of a single, larger, "extended" mind.
Among philosophers of mind, that idea has racked up citations, including supporters and critics. And by its very design, Japyassú's paper, which aims to export extended cognition as a testable idea to the field of animal behavior, is already stirring up antibodies among scientists. "I got the impression that it was being very careful to check all the boxes for hot topics and controversial topics in animal cognition," said Alex Jordan, a collective behaviorial scientist at the Max Planck Institute in Konstanz, Germany (who nonetheless supports the idea).
While many disagree with the paper's interpretations, the study shouldn't be confused for a piece of philosophy. Japyassú and Laland propose ways to test their ideas in concrete experiments that involve manipulating the spider's web — tests that other researchers are excited about. "We can break that machine; we can snap strands; we can reduce the way that animal is able to perceive the system around it," Jordan said. "And that generates some very direct and testable hypotheses." [Continue reading…]
The neurology for reaching a destination
Moheb Costandi writes: How do humans and other animals find their way from A to B? This apparently simple question has no easy answer. But after decades of extensive research, a picture of how the brain encodes space and enables us to navigate through it is beginning to emerge. Earlier, neuroscientists had found that the mammalian brain contains at least three different cell types, which cooperate to encode neural representations of an animal's location and movements.
But that picture has just grown far more complex. New research now points to the existence of two more types of brain cells involved in spatial navigation — and suggests previously unrecognized neural mechanisms underlying the way mammals make their way about the world.
Earlier work, performed in freely moving rodents, revealed that neurons called place cells fire when an animal is in a specific location. Another type — grid cells — activate periodically as an animal moves around. Finally, head direction cells fire when a mouse or rat moves in a particular direction. Together, these cells, which are located in and around a deep brain structure called the hippocampus, appear to encode an animal's current location within its environment by tracking the distance and direction of its movements.
This process is fine for simply moving around, but it does not explain exactly how a traveler gets to a specific destination. The question of how the brain encodes the endpoint of a journey has remained unanswered. To investigate this, Ayelet Sarel of the Weismann Institute of Science in Israel and her colleagues trained three Egyptian fruit bats to fly in complicated paths and then land at a specific location where they could eat and rest. The researchers recorded the activity of a total of 309 hippocampal neurons with a wireless electrode array. About a third of these neurons exhibited the characteristics of place cells, each of them firing only when the bat was in a specific area of the large flight room. But the researchers also identified 58 cells that fired only when the bats were flying directly toward the landing site. [Continue reading…]
Our slow, uncertain brains are still better than computers — here's why
By Parashkev Nachev, UCL
Automated financial trading machines can make complex decisions in a thousandth of a second. A human being making a choice – however simple – can never be faster than about one-fifth of a second. Our reaction times are not only slow but also remarkably variable, ranging over hundreds of milliseconds.
Is this because our brains are poorly designed, prone to random uncertainty – or "noise" in the electronic jargon? Measured in the laboratory, even the neurons of a fly are both fast and precise in their responses to external events, down to a few milliseconds. The sloppiness of our reaction times looks less like an accident than a built-in feature. The brain deliberately procrastinates, even if we ask it to do otherwise.
Massively parallel wetware
Why should this be? Unlike computers, our brains are massively parallel in their organisation, concurrently running many millions of separate processes. They must do this because they are not designed to perform a specific set of actions but to select from a vast repertoire of alternatives that the fundamental unpredictability of our environment offers us. From an evolutionary perspective, it is best to trust nothing and no one, least of all oneself. So before each action the brain must flip through a vast Rolodex of possibilities. It is amazing it can do this at all, let alone in a fraction of a second.
But why the variability? There is hierarchically nothing higher than the brain, so decisions have to arise through peer-to-peer interactions between different groups of neurons. Since there can be only one winner at any one time – our movements would otherwise be chaotic – the mode of resolution is less negotiation than competition: a winner-takes-all race. To ensure the competition is fair, the race must run for a minimum length of time – hence the delay – and the time it takes will depend on the nature and quality of the field of competitors, hence the variability.
Fanciful though this may sound, the distributions of human reaction times, across different tasks, limbs, and people, have been repeatedly shown to fit the "race" model remarkably well. And one part of the brain – the medial frontal cortex – seems to track reaction time tightly, as an area crucial to procrastination ought to. Disrupting the medial frontal cortex should therefore disrupt the race, bringing it to an early close. Rather than slowing us down, disrupting the brain should here speed us up, accelerating behaviour but at the cost of less considered actions.
The more you know about a topic the more likely you are to have false memories about it
By Ciara Greene, University College Dublin
Human memory does not operate like a video tape that can be rewound and rewatched, with every viewing revealing the same events in the same order. In fact, memories are reconstructed every time we recall them. Aspects of the memory can be altered, added or deleted altogether with each new recollection. This can lead to the phenomenon of false memory, where people have clear memories of an event that they never experienced.
False memory is surprisingly common, but a number of factors can increase its frequency. Recent research in my lab shows that being very interested in a topic can make you twice as likely to experience a false memory about that topic.
Previous research has indicated that experts in a few clearly defined fields, such as investments and American football, might be more likely to experience false memory in relation to their areas of expertise. Opinion as to the cause of this effect is divided. Some researchers have suggested that greater knowledge makes a person more likely to incorrectly recognise new information that is similar to previously experienced information. Another interpretation suggests that experts feel that they should know everything about their topic of expertise. According to this account, experts' sense of accountability for their judgements causes them to "fill in the gaps" in their knowledge with plausible, but false, information.
To further investigate this, we asked 489 participants to rank seven topics from most to least interesting. The topics we used were football, politics, business, technology, film, science and pop music. The participants were then asked if they remembered the events described in four news items about the topic they selected as the most interesting, and four items about the topic selected as least interesting. In each case, three of the events depicted had really happened and one was fictional.
The results showed that being interested in a topic increased the frequency of accurate memories relating to that topic. Critically, it also increased the number of false memories – 25% of people experienced a false memory in relation to an interesting topic, compared with 10% in relation to a less interesting topic. Importantly, our participants were not asked to identify themselves as experts, and did not get to choose which topics they would answer questions about. This means that the increase in false memories is unlikely to be due to a sense of accountability for judgements about a specialist topic.
Why neuroscientists need to study the crow
Grigori Guitchounts writes: The animals of neuroscience research are an eclectic bunch, and for good reason. Different model organisms—like zebra fish larvae, C. elegans worms, fruit flies, and mice — give researchers the opportunity to answer specific questions. The first two, for example, have transparent bodies, which let scientists easily peer into their brains; the last two have eminently tweakable genomes, which allow scientists to isolate the effects of specific genes. For cognition studies, researchers have relied largely on primates and, more recently, rats, which I use in my own work. But the time is ripe for this exclusive club of research animals to accept a new, avian member: the corvid family.
Corvids, such as crows, ravens, and magpies, are among the most intelligent birds on the planet — the list of their cognitive achievements goes on and on — yet neuroscientists have not scrutinized their brains for one simple reason: They don't have a neocortex. The obsession with the neocortex in neuroscience research is not unwarranted; what's unwarranted is the notion that the neocortex alone is responsible for sophisticated cognition. Because birds lack this structure—the most recently evolved portion of the mammalian brain, crucial to human intelligence—neuroscientists have largely and unfortunately neglected the neural basis of corvid intelligence.
This makes them miss an opportunity for an important insight. Having diverged from mammals more than 300 million years ago, avian brains have had plenty of time to develop along remarkably different lines (instead of a cortex with its six layers of neatly arranged neurons, birds evolved groups of neurons densely packed into clusters called nuclei). So, any computational similarities between corvid and primate brains — which are so different neurally — would indicate the development of common solutions to shared evolutionary problems, like creating and storing memories, or learning from experience. If neuroscientists want to know how brains produce intelligence, looking solely at the neocortex won't cut it; they must study how corvid brains achieve the same clever behaviors that we see in ourselves and other mammals. [Continue reading…]
Human brain mapped in unprecedented detail
Nature reports: Think of a spinning globe and the patchwork of countries it depicts: such maps help us to understand where we are, and that nations differ from one another. Now, neuroscientists have charted an equivalent map of the brain's outermost layer — the cerebral cortex — subdividing each hemisphere's mountain- and valley-like folds into 180 separate parcels.
Ninety-seven of these areas have never previously been described, despite showing clear differences in structure, function and connectivity from their neighbours. The new brain map is published today in Nature.
Each discrete area on the map contains cells with similar structure, function and connectivity. But these areas differ from each other, just as different countries have well-defined borders and unique cultures, says David Van Essen, a neuroscientist at Washington University Medical School in St Louis, Missouri, who supervised the study.
Neuroscientists have long sought to divide the brain into smaller pieces to better appreciate how it works as a whole. One of the best-known brain maps chops the cerebral cortex into 52 areas based on the arrangement of cells in the tissue. More recently, maps have been constructed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques — such as functional MRI, which measures the flow of blood in response to different mental tasks.
Yet until now, most such maps have been based on a single type of measurement. That can provide an incomplete or even misleading view of the brain's inner workings, says Thomas Yeo, a computational neuroscientist at the National University of Singapore. The new map is based on multiple MRI measurements, which Yeo says "greatly increases confidence that they are producing the best in vivo estimates of cortical areas". [Continue reading…]
Where is language in the brain?
By Gaia Vince, Mosaic
If you read a sentence (such as this one) about kicking a ball, neurons related to the motor function of your leg and foot will be activated in your brain. Similarly, if you talk about cooking garlic, neurons associated with smelling will fire up. Since it is almost impossible to do or think about anything without using language – whether this entails an internal talk-through by your inner voice or following a set of written instructions – language pervades our brains and our lives like no other skill.
For more than a century, it's been established that our capacity to use language is usually located in the left hemisphere of the brain, specifically in two areas: Broca's area (associated with speech production and articulation) and Wernicke's area (associated with comprehension). Damage to either of these, caused by a stroke or other injury, can lead to language and speech problems or aphasia, a loss of language.
In the past decade, however, neurologists have discovered it's not that simple: language is not restricted to two areas of the brain or even just to one side, and the brain itself can grow when we learn new languages.
Whatever you think, you don't necessarily know your own mind
Keith Frankish writes: Do you think racial stereotypes are false? Are you sure? I'm not asking if you're sure whether or not the stereotypes are false, but if you're sure whether or not you think that they are. That might seem like a strange question. We all know what we think, don't we?
Most philosophers of mind would agree, holding that we have privileged access to our own thoughts, which is largely immune from error. Some argue that we have a faculty of 'inner sense', which monitors the mind just as the outer senses monitor the world. There have been exceptions, however. The mid-20th-century behaviourist philosopher Gilbert Ryle held that we learn about our own minds, not by inner sense, but by observing our own behaviour, and that friends might know our minds better than we do. (Hence the joke: two behaviourists have just had sex and one turns to the other and says: 'That was great for you, darling. How was it for me?') And the contemporary philosopher Peter Carruthers proposes a similar view (though for different reasons), arguing that our beliefs about our own thoughts and decisions are the product of self-interpretation and are often mistaken.
Evidence for this comes from experimental work in social psychology. It is well established that people sometimes think they have beliefs that they don't really have. For example, if offered a choice between several identical items, people tend to choose the one on the right. But when asked why they chose it, they confabulate a reason, saying they thought the item was a nicer colour or better quality. Similarly, if a person performs an action in response to an earlier (and now forgotten) hypnotic suggestion, they will confabulate a reason for performing it. What seems to be happening is that the subjects engage in unconscious self-interpretation. They don't know the real explanation of their action (a bias towards the right, hypnotic suggestion), so they infer some plausible reason and ascribe it to themselves. They are not aware that they are interpreting, however, and make their reports as if they were directly aware of their reasons. [Continue reading…]
There's no such thing as free will
Stephen Cave writes: For centuries, philosophers and theologians have almost unanimously held that civilization as we know it depends on a widespread belief in free will — and that losing this belief could be calamitous. Our codes of ethics, for example, assume that we can freely choose between right and wrong. In the Christian tradition, this is known as "moral liberty" — the capacity to discern and pursue the good, instead of merely being compelled by appetites and desires. The great Enlightenment philosopher Immanuel Kant reaffirmed this link between freedom and goodness. If we are not free to choose, he argued, then it would make no sense to say we ought to choose the path of righteousness.
Today, the assumption of free will runs through every aspect of American politics, from welfare provision to criminal law. It permeates the popular culture and underpins the American dream — the belief that anyone can make something of themselves no matter what their start in life. As Barack Obama wrote in The Audacity of Hope, American "values are rooted in a basic optimism about life and a faith in free will."
So what happens if this faith erodes?
The sciences have grown steadily bolder in their claim that all human behavior can be explained through the clockwork laws of cause and effect. This shift in perception is the continuation of an intellectual revolution that began about 150 years ago, when Charles Darwin first published On the Origin of Species. Shortly after Darwin put forth his theory of evolution, his cousin Sir Francis Galton began to draw out the implications: If we have evolved, then mental faculties like intelligence must be hereditary. But we use those faculties — which some people have to a greater degree than others — to make decisions. So our ability to choose our fate is not free, but depends on our biological inheritance.
Galton launched a debate that raged throughout the 20th century over nature versus nurture. Are our actions the unfolding effect of our genetics? Or the outcome of what has been imprinted on us by the environment? Impressive evidence accumulated for the importance of each factor. Whether scientists supported one, the other, or a mix of both, they increasingly assumed that our deeds must be determined by something. [Continue reading…]
Scientists map brain's thesaurus to help decode inner thoughts
UC Berkeley reports: What if a map of the brain could help us decode people's inner thoughts?
UC Berkeley scientists have taken a step in that direction by building a "semantic atlas" that shows in vivid colors and multiple dimensions how the human brain organizes language. The atlas identifies brain areas that respond to words that have similar meanings.
The findings, published in the journal Nature, are based on a brain imaging study that recorded neural activity while study volunteers listened to stories from the "Moth Radio Hour." They show that at least one-third of the brain's cerebral cortex, including areas dedicated to high-level cognition, is involved in language processing.
Notably, the study found that different people share similar language maps: "The similarity in semantic topography across different subjects is really surprising," said study lead author Alex Huth, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience at UC Berkeley. Click here for Huth's online brain viewer. [Continue reading…]
Exploding the myth of the scientific vs artistic mind
By David Pearson, Anglia Ruskin University
It's a stereotype, but many of us have made the assumption that scientists are a bit rigid and less artistic than others. Artists, on the other hand, are often seen as being less rational than the rest of us. Sometimes described as the left side of the brain versus the right side – or simply logical thinking versus artistic creativity – the two are often seen as polar opposites.
Neuroscience has already shown that everyone uses both sides of the brain when performing any task. And while certain patterns of brain activity have sometimes been linked to artistic or logical thinking, it doesn't really explain who is good at what – and why. That's because the exact interplay of nature and nurture is notoriously difficult to tease out. But if we put the brain aside for a while and just focus on documented ability, is there any evidence to support the logic versus art stereotype?
Psychological research has approached this question by distinguishing between two styles of thinking: convergent and divergent. The emphasis in convergent thinking is on analytical and deductive reasoning, such as that measured in IQ tests. Divergent thinking, however, is more spontaneous and free-flowing. It focuses on novelty and is measured by tasks requiring us to generate multiple solutions for a problem. An example may be thinking of new, innovative uses for familiar objects.
Studies conducted during the 1960s suggested that convergent thinkers were more likely to be good at science subjects at school. Divergent thinking was shown to be more common in the arts and humanities.
However, we are increasingly learning that convergent and divergent thinking styles need not be mutually exclusive. In 2011, researchers assessed 116 final-year UK arts and science undergraduates on measures of convergent and divergent thinking and creative problem solving. The study found no difference in ability between the arts and science groups on any of these measures. Another study reported no significant difference in measures of divergent thinking between arts, natural science and social science undergraduates. Both arts and natural sciences students, however, rated themselves as being more creative than social sciences students did.
Why our perceptions of an independent reality must be illusions
Amanda Gefter writes: As we go about our daily lives, we tend to assume that our perceptions — sights, sounds, textures, tastes — are an accurate portrayal of the real world. Sure, when we stop and think about it — or when we find ourselves fooled by a perceptual illusion — we realize with a jolt that what we perceive is never the world directly, but rather our brain's best guess at what that world is like, a kind of internal simulation of an external reality. Still, we bank on the fact that our simulation is a reasonably decent one. If it wasn't, wouldn't evolution have weeded us out by now? The true reality might be forever beyond our reach, but surely our senses give us at least an inkling of what it's really like.
Not so, says Donald D. Hoffman, a professor of cognitive science at the University of California, Irvine. Hoffman has spent the past three decades studying perception, artificial intelligence, evolutionary game theory and the brain, and his conclusion is a dramatic one: The world presented to us by our perceptions is nothing like reality. What's more, he says, we have evolution itself to thank for this magnificent illusion, as it maximizes evolutionary fitness by driving truth to extinction.
Getting at questions about the nature of reality, and disentangling the observer from the observed, is an endeavor that straddles the boundaries of neuroscience and fundamental physics. On one side you'll find researchers scratching their chins raw trying to understand how a three-pound lump of gray matter obeying nothing more than the ordinary laws of physics can give rise to first-person conscious experience. This is the aptly named "hard problem." [Continue reading…]
How animals think
Alison Gopnik writes: For 2,000 years, there was an intuitive, elegant, compelling picture of how the world worked. It was called "the ladder of nature." In the canonical version, God was at the top, followed by angels, who were followed by humans. Then came the animals, starting with noble wild beasts and descending to domestic animals and insects. Human animals followed the scheme, too. Women ranked lower than men, and children were beneath them. The ladder of nature was a scientific picture, but it was also a moral and political one. It was only natural that creatures higher up would have dominion over those lower down.
Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection delivered a serious blow to this conception. Natural selection is a blind historical process, stripped of moral hierarchy. A cockroach is just as well adapted to its environment as I am to mine. In fact, the bug may be better adapted — cockroaches have been around a lot longer than humans have, and may well survive after we are gone. But the very word evolution can imply a progression — New Agers talk about becoming "more evolved" — and in the 19th century, it was still common to translate evolutionary ideas into ladder-of-nature terms.
Modern biological science has in principle rejected the ladder of nature. But the intuitive picture is still powerful. In particular, the idea that children and nonhuman animals are lesser beings has been surprisingly persistent. Even scientists often act as if children and animals are defective adult humans, defined by the abilities we have and they don't. Neuroscientists, for example, sometimes compare brain-damaged adults to children and animals.
We always should have been suspicious of this picture, but now we have no excuse for continuing with it. In the past 30 years, research has explored the distinctive ways in which children as well as animals think, and the discoveries deal the coup de grâce to the ladder of nature. The primatologist Frans de Waal has been at the forefront of the animal research, and its most important public voice. In Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?, he makes a passionate and convincing case for the sophistication of nonhuman minds. [Continue reading…]
Processing high-level math concepts uses the same neural networks as in basic math skills
Scientific American reports: Alan Turing, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, John Nash — these "beautiful" minds never fail to enchant the public, but they also remain somewhat elusive. How do some people progress from being able to perform basic arithmetic to grasping advanced mathematical concepts and thinking at levels of abstraction that baffle the rest of the population? Neuroscience has now begun to pin down whether the brain of a math wiz somehow takes conceptual thinking to another level.
Specifically, scientists have long debated whether the basis of high-level mathematical thought is tied to the brain's language-processing centers — that thinking at such a level of abstraction requires linguistic representation and an understanding of syntax — or to independent regions associated with number and spatial reasoning. In a study published this week in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a pair of researchers at the INSERM–CEA Cognitive Neuroimaging Unit in France reported that the brain areas involved in math are different from those engaged in equally complex nonmathematical thinking.
The team used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to scan the brains of 15 professional mathematicians and 15 nonmathematicians of the same academic standing. While in the scanner the subjects listened to a series of 72 high-level mathematical statements, divided evenly among algebra, analysis, geometry and topology, as well as 18 high-level nonmathematical (mostly historical) statements. They had four seconds to reflect on each proposition and determine whether it was true, false or meaningless.
The researchers found that in the mathematicians only, listening to math-related statements activated a network involving bilateral intraparietal, dorsal prefrontal, and inferior temporal regions of the brain. This circuitry is usually not associated with areas involved in language processing and semantics, which were activated in both mathematicians and nonmathematicians when they were presented with the nonmathematical statements. "On the contrary," says study co-author and graduate student Marie Amalric, "our results show that high-level mathematical reflection recycles brain regions associated with an evolutionarily ancient knowledge of number and space." [Continue reading…]
Brain scans reveal how LSD affects consciousness
Researchers from Imperial College London, working with the Beckley Foundation, have for the first time visualised the effects of LSD on the brain: In a series of experiments, scientists have gained a glimpse into how the psychedelic compound affects brain activity. The team administered LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) to 20 healthy volunteers in a specialist research centre and used various leading-edge and complementary brain scanning techniques to visualise how LSD alters the way the brain works.
The findings, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), reveal what happens in the brain when people experience the complex visual hallucinations that are often associated with LSD state. They also shed light on the brain changes that underlie the profound altered state of consciousness the drug can produce.
A major finding of the research is the discovery of what happens in the brain when people experience complex dreamlike hallucinations under LSD. Under normal conditions, information from our eyes is processed in a part of the brain at the back of the head called the visual cortex. However, when the volunteers took LSD, many additional brain areas – not just the visual cortex – contributed to visual processing.
Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, from the Department of Medicine at Imperial, who led the research, explained: "We observed brain changes under LSD that suggested our volunteers were 'seeing with their eyes shut' – albeit they were seeing things from their imagination rather than from the outside world. We saw that many more areas of the brain than normal were contributing to visual processing under LSD – even though the volunteers' eyes were closed. Furthermore, the size of this effect correlated with volunteers' ratings of complex, dreamlike visions."
The study also revealed what happens in the brain when people report a fundamental change in the quality of their consciousness under LSD.
Dr Carhart-Harris explained: "Normally our brain consists of independent networks that perform separate specialised functions, such as vision, movement and hearing – as well as more complex things like attention. However, under LSD the separateness of these networks breaks down and instead you see a more integrated or unified brain.
"Our results suggest that this effect underlies the profound altered state of consciousness that people often describe during an LSD experience. It is also related to what people sometimes call 'ego-dissolution', which means the normal sense of self is broken down and replaced by a sense of reconnection with themselves, others and the natural world. This experience is sometimes framed in a religious or spiritual way – and seems to be associated with improvements in well-being after the drug's effects have subsided." [Continue reading…]
Amanda Feilding, executive director of the Beckley Foundation, in an address she will deliver to the Royal Society tomorrow, says: I think Albert Hoffman would have been delighted to have his "Problem child" celebrated at the Royal Society, as in his long lifetime the academic establishment never recognised his great contribution. But for the taboo surrounding this field, he would surely have won the Nobel Prize. That was the beginning of the modern psychedelic age, which has fundamentally changed society.
After the discovery of the effects of LSD, there was a burst of excitement in the medical and therapeutic worlds – over 1000 experimental and clinical studies were undertaken. Then, in the early 60s, LSD escaped from the labs and began to spread into the world at large. Fuelled by its transformational insights, a cultural evolution took place, whose effects are still felt today. It sparked a wave of interest in Eastern mysticism, healthy living, nurturing the environment, individual freedoms and new music and art among many other changes. Then the establishment panicked and turned to prohibition, partly motivated by American youth becoming disenchanted with fighting a war in far-off Vietnam.
Aghast at the global devastation caused by the war on drugs, I set up the Beckley Foundation in 1998. With the advent of brain imaging technology, I realised that one could correlate the subjective experience of altered states of consciousness, brought about by psychedelic substances, with empirical findings. I realised that only through the very best science investigating how psychedelics work in the brain could one overcome the misplaced taboo which had transformed them from the food of the gods to the work of the devil. [Continue reading…]
Just to be clear, as valuable as this research is, it is an exercise in map-making. The map should never be confused with the territory.